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Pole Vault Power
Boosting the Power of Your Pole Vault
Leaping over heights that are set as high as 6 meters would ordinarily be difficult. But pole vaulting makes it possible. In theory, almost anyone can successfully perform a pole vault. However the outcome of your jump will be affected by your strength and technical ability. In order to successfully perform a challenging pole vault, you will need to work on your technique and strength in the different areas of the jump. Generally, pole vaulting can be divided into five major areas. The Approach, the Plant, the Takeoff, the swing-up and clearance.
Each of these stages contributes to the athlete's eventual pole vault power in different ways. The approach stage addresses the athlete's build up to a jump. The energy generated during an athlete's approach plays an important role in the eventual potential of their jump. Speed is an important asset. Athletes who are able to generate rapid acceleration during the short period of their approach will stand a better chance of achieving a successful jump.
The plant is also an important state and plays a vital role in how much pole vault power an athlete will be able to generate when he takes off. The best jumps are achievable when an athlete is able to properly plant the pole at the right angle and distance from the beam. Needless to say, this requires a lot of practice and training. A successfully approach and plant will inevitably lead to a good takeoff-which forms the third stage of the jump. An athlete will however also need to rely on the right combination of strength, balance and mental concentration during this process.
As difficult and important as these first three stages might be, they are nothing compared to the challenge of the Swing-up. The Swing-up stage is widely agreed to be the most difficult stage of any pole vault event. It requires a remarkable combination of body strength, core control and mental quickness. The slightest bend out of position can ruin the results of an otherwise flawless jump. A bad approach or takeoff can mar the success of a jump. But a bad swing-up will almost certainly ruin it.
This is why athletes typically spend many long months focus on improving their performance in this area.
There are a number of training routines and workout drills that athletes can use in improving their upper and middle body strengths. Leg raises, push-ups and sit-ups are all extremely effective for building the major core muscles of the body. There are also other methods available to athletes who wish to refine their technique for a jump. For example, with the Swingup Invert (SI) Device, athletes can practice their swing up maneuvers at various heights. Endorsed by hundreds of athletes and coaches around the country, including Rick Attig a pole vaulting expert, the SI device offers athletes the perfect opportunity of achieving that perfect jump-even over heights above 6meters. You can learn more about the SI device by visiting the product page at http://www.swingupinvert.com/.
